Mayor Lurie earns key vote, critical support from President Mandelman to combat fentanyl crisis

SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor Daniel Lurie today marked two major milestones in his work to address the city’s fentanyl and homelessness crises: the addition of Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman as the sixth cosponsor of the Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance and a unanimous positive recommendation for the bill from the board’s Budget and Finance Committee.

With President Mandelman’s support, the Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance has six cosponsors – more than half of the supervisors and enough to pass the full board. This afternoon, the board’s Budget and Finance Committee – chaired by Supervisor Connie Chan – voted 3-0 with additional support from cosponsors Supervisors Matt Dorsey and Joel Engardio to advance the ordinance to the full board with a positive recommendation. The ordinance’s other cosponsors are Supervisors Bilal Mahmood, Danny Sauter, and Stephen Sherrill.

The ordinance will have a first reading and vote at the full Board of Supervisors on February 4. If the vote is successful, a second and final reading will follow.

These major milestones also follow a rally this morning hosted by Mothers Against Drug Addiction & Deaths, the San Francisco Recovery Coalition, and other partners and leaders in the recovery community.

“Every day, people are struggling with addiction on the streets of San Francisco. With the Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance, we are no longer looking the other way – we are treating the fentanyl crisis like the emergency it is,” said Mayor Lurie. “This is a new era in City Hall. Today and every day, we will work with President Mandelman, our five other cosponsors, and every member of the Board of Supervisors to find common ground and take action on the issues affecting San Franciscans.”

“I appreciate the Mayor’s willingness to work with members of the Board to address their concerns regarding this legislation. I’m happy to support the result – a package of sensible reforms to streamline the City’s response to the crisis on our streets that also preserves an oversight role for the Board,” said Board of Supervisors President Mandelman. “I look forward to working with Mayor Lurie and his team to advance policies that will support recovery in San Francisco and reclaim our public spaces for use by all members of the public.”